Christmas Kindness

December 13th, 2013

One of my favourite things about this time of year is the wonderful stories that come out of people doing special things and going the extra mile for someone else. Maybe I’m just a sap, but those heartwarming stories remind me that no matter how much change happens in the world that kindness is always worth more than its weight in gold. We don’t know what goes on in other people’s lives and sometimes the smallest gestures can mean the world to people. Donating toys and food can give someone a chance to have a much better Christmas than if you hadn’t done anything at all.

Sometimes the gestures aren’t so small. This week I was really impressed with WestJet’s Christmas Miracle on December 8th. Yes, it was a marketing event for them, but I think that what they accomplished goes beyond that because of the impact that they had on people’s lives. Maybe that is just marketing at its very best, but I’m still impressed. A lot of thought went into their Miracle, and it shows on the faces of everyone that it touched (and I think that includes anyone who has seen the video of it). If you haven’t seen the video, you can check it out here.

Gift giving is a pleasure of mine, which I’m happy to indulge in during this time of year. I think a lot of other people feel the same way. It is so satisfying to see the happy look on someone’s face, knowing that you put it there. I don’t know about you, but since I’ve been a little girl, I’ve always been told that it’s not the gift that counts, but rather the thought behind it. This is probably a good thing since I know that my gift giving resources are nowhere near those of WestJet.

I’m getting a little bit off track. It’s not always what we think of as being traditional gifts, like toys or jewelry that make the greatest impact. Sometimes the things that we tend to take for granted, can have the greatest impact for someone who wouldn’t otherwise have any. Donating to your local food bank is welcome all year round, not just for major holidays which is when we tend to think of it more.

Aesop remarked that “no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”. I think that’s an important thing to remember. Benevolence and thoughtfulness are synonymous with this time of year. Maybe we all need to make an effort to remember that all year round, not just during the Christmas season. I don’t know about you, but I could do with more feel good stories throughout the entire year.